Chapter 49.3

Inside, Qin Qingman listened to Wei Ling and Chuchu’s chatter from the courtyard as she opened the storage box. There were two large boxes, and she opened the one closest to the outside.

This box held various things, like summer blankets and some of Chuchu’s clothes. She guessed that this would be where Chuchu had hidden the fountain pen.

Sure enough, after lifting a few clothes and blankets, she found the fountain pen, carefully wrapped in paper, at the very bottom.

The paper was a sturdy, earthy yellow with a faint herbal scent—likely used to wrap medicine.

Qin Qingman assumed this paper was left over from when the original owner’s mother was unwell, as she found a few more carefully smoothed-out sheets of the same yellow paper tucked into one corner of the box.

Though durable and sturdy, the yellow paper wasn’t waterproof.

She spotted a small blotch of blue ink that had seeped through the paper. Thankfully, it was minor and hadn’t stained anything else.

She quickly took out the wrapped fountain pen.

Opening the paper, Qin Qingman found that the pen cap hadn’t been tightly screwed on. Not only that, but it seemed Chuchu had accidentally squeezed the ink reservoir, causing ink to pool inside the cap. This kind of storage wouldn’t do.

Qin Qingman took the fountain pen to the main hall.

She poured some warm water and began to clean it.

First, she rinsed the ink out of the reservoir several times until it was clear, then shook it dry. She carefully washed the ink cartridge, barrel, and cap one by one. After washing everything, she didn’t reassemble the pen right away; instead, she placed the parts by the stove to dry completely. Once they were fully dry, she reassembled the pen, wrapped it in a fresh sheet of yellow paper, and put it back in the box.

After finishing everything, Qin Qingman returned to the main hall.

She didn’t plan on telling Chuchu about the ink spill; such a small issue didn’t need to worry the child.

Once she tidied up and finished washing the dishes, Qin Qingman stepped outside to check on Wei Ling and Chuchu.

Seeing Chuchu in the oversized cotton coat, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Sis, does it look nice?” Hearing her laughter, both Wei Ling and Chuchu turned to look at her. Chuchu, realizing she was laughing at his appearance, wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. Instead, he cheerfully flung the long sleeves around, almost like an opera performer flicking their flowing sleeves.

“It looks great! Chuchu always looks good, no matter what he’s wearing.” Qin Qingman chuckled, nearly doubling over with laughter. Then she added, “The snow is pretty much cleared. Come back in and warm up by the fire before you get too cold.”

Winter was harsh here, and staying outside for too long could easily lead to hypothermia.

“Alright, we’re coming in.” Wei Ling replied. Knowing the dangers of prolonged exposure, he used the shovel to clear the last patch of snow, then patted it onto the high wooden fence. With one hand on the shovel and the other lifting Chuchu, he headed back inside.

“Go warm up by the stove.” Qin Qingman urged, coming forward to take Chuchu from him.

“No need; Chuchu’s not heavy.” Wei Ling said, preferring not to burden Qin Qingman. Instead, he handed her the shovel.

She placed the shovel against the wall under the eaves and lifted the curtain, allowing Wei Ling and Chuchu to step inside.

Indoors, it was like another world. As soon as Chuchu entered, he began taking off his layers—not only Wei Ling’s coat but also his own, plus his hat, earmuffs, and gloves, which he carefully hung on the rack.

Then, rubbing his hands together, he didn’t rush to the fire but instead followed Qin Qingman to drink some warm water.

After drinking, his little hands were flushed and warm. Only then did he settle down by the stove, waving Wei Ling over to join him.

“Sis, lots of people were out shoveling snow today.” Chuchu began, full of the news he’d picked up. “I overheard them talking. No one knows when we’ll have a few clear days in a row—they’re all hoping for it so they can go hunting in the mountains. Everyone’s craving meat.” Though Chuchu was young, he had sharp ears and a knack for picking up bits of gossip, even without leaving the courtyard.

Hearing this, Qin Qingman turned to look at Wei Ling.

“Up on the mountain, it’s relatively safe for now. The headquarters has daily patrols, so dangerous animals like bears and wolves are temporarily absent.” Wei Ling assured, knowing exactly what Qin Qingman’s questioning look meant. Although he was on leave for a few days, he stayed well-informed about the local situation.

Qin Qingman breathed a sigh of relief. “Now we just have to wait for the right weather.”

Large-scale hunting trips deep into the mountains could not simply last a day or two. They had to wait for several consecutive sunny days before venturing up.

“I can ask the soldiers in charge of meteorology.” Wei Ling offered. Since he and Qin Qingman were living in Kaoshan Village, he didn’t intend to maintain too much distance from the villagers, as it wouldn’t help their life here. Besides, his division had a meteorology department, so asking for a forecast wouldn’t violate any rules.

Although the forecast wasn’t always accurate, it could still provide a general idea.

Qin Qingman wasn’t overly hopeful about the weather report. The country’s technology was still somewhat behind in those days, and even forecasts in the future weren’t always accurate. Expecting precision now would be too much.

After a moment’s thought, Qin Qingman said, “The old hunters here have spent most of their lives hunting. They understand the mountain climate well. If we ask both sides, it might be more reliable.”

“The old hunters certainly know how to read the mountain’s weather better.” Wei Ling agreed.

Despite being illiterate, these hunters relied on the accumulated experience of generations, and their weather predictions often outperformed those of the meteorological department at Wei Ling’s division. Even the weather specialists there listened respectfully to the hunters’ insights.

“Wife, I only have three more days of leave before I return to the division. During missions, I might not be able to come home, but if I’m only training teams at headquarters, I can still come back at night after work.” Wei Ling said, having gone over this speech in his mind several times before finally bringing it up in the current pleasant atmosphere.

Qin Qingman was momentarily taken aback.

Being with Wei Ling every day lately had made her forget that his leave was limited. With a hint of reluctance, she looked at him, her gaze holding a trace of wistful attachment.

Wei Ling was also reluctant to part from his wife.

But he knew it was better to say such things early to prepare their minds, avoiding potential resentment later on.

“Wife, since I’m at the rank of regiment leader, I’m not required to stay at headquarters every day. I should be able to work regular hours for about half of each month, which means I can return home after work and be with you.” he said, gently taking Qin Qingman’s hand.

She glanced at little Chuchu nearby and, ultimately, did not pull her hand away. Instead, she nodded understandingly and said, “Ah Ling, be careful during work. Chuchu and I will be waiting for you at home.”

“Alright.” Wei Ling said, feeling reassured.

“Wife, the division’s convoy went to the provincial capital yesterday and should return tomorrow. They should be able to bring back the coal and new stove we bought. Once they’re here, we can keep the house warmer. You and Chuchu shouldn’t have to suffer the cold. We have plenty of fuel, so don’t hold back.”

“Mm, I understand.” Qin Qingman replied.

Qin Qingman nodded, already thinking about how to prepare some nourishing meals for Wei Ling in the coming days.

With some monkey-head mushrooms on hand, she decided to make a stew with bear paw, a rare treat. Thinking of the bear paw reminded Qin Qingman of the wolves up in the mountains. It had been days since they last saw them, and she couldn’t help but wonder about Xiao Hei, his mate, and their pups. “Ah Ling, if you have time, go check on Xiao Hei and his family.” she requested, without mentioning any specific tasks related to his work.

“Alright.” Wei Ling replied, knowing Qin Qingman held a soft spot for Xiao Hei’s family and promising her he’d make the time.

“Ah Ling, tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. Let’s celebrate properly this year. If Du Hongyi and the others are off duty, invite them to join us.” she suggested. The Winter Solstice was a major festival in the north, often celebrated with dumplings and lamb. Qin Qingman knew Wei Ling and his comrades were far from home, so she decided to host a proper celebration.

Wei Ling paused, suddenly realizing that tomorrow was indeed the Winter Solstice.

The holiday was traditionally about togetherness, and last year was his first winter in the village after coming from the capital. He had spent that day on duty without even a taste of dumplings, despite it being a festival of reunion. But this year, he had a family to celebrate with.

“Wife, I’ll stop by the headquarters in a bit to see who’s free tomorrow. If they are, they’ll join us for the reunion dinner.” he said, appreciating her generosity and warmth.

He also considered that having a few of his comrades over meant they’d be able to help with moving coal into the house.

“Brother-in-law, when are we going to carve the ice lanterns?” Chuchu waited patiently until Qin Qingman and Wei Ling had finished talking, then asked about the activity he was most excited for.

“We’ll go now.” Wei Ling said, giving Chuchu’s head a playful rub.

“Great! Sis!” Chuchu jumped up excitedly, looking over at Qin Qingman.

Qin Qingman had initially planned to join them for the ice lantern carving, but knowing that Wei Ling only had three days left of his leave, she suddenly felt less inclined to go. Besides, she knew her own strength wouldn’t be up to the challenge of carving ice lanterns properly.

Understanding this, she shook her head gently and said, “You go with Ah Ling to carve the lanterns. I’ll stay and organize the house.”

The west room had accumulated a lot of clutter, especially with Wei Ling now staying there, and it was starting to feel inconvenient. She decided to move most of the things into the unused east room.

The stove they ordered was due to arrive tomorrow, and she needed to make space in the west room for it, along with setting up the sewing machine.

“Wife, do you need my help?” Wei Ling asked with concern.

“No need, it’s nothing too big. I can handle it. You go keep Chuchu company.” Qin Qingman said, waving him off with a smile. “Ever since he found out about the ice lanterns yesterday, he’s been talking about them even in his sleep.” With that reassurance, she happily left Chuchu in Wei Ling’s care.

“Alright, we’ll make three ice lanterns; it shouldn’t take too long.” Wei Ling replied, planning to work quickly and make use of his skills.

“Good, one for each of us.” Qin Qingman understood his intent.

“Yes, one for each of us.” Wei Ling wrapped Chuchu and himself warmly and, taking some tools, headed out into the courtyard.

Three large blocks of ice stood by the well, perfectly clear from the clean water source. The ice was so crystal clear that they could see each other through it.

“Brother-in-law, what kind of shapes will we make for the ice lanterns?” Chuchu asked, eagerly bouncing on his feet.

Though he wasn’t much help, his gloved little hands couldn’t resist patting each block of ice in excitement.

“Let’s make some animals.” Wei Ling said, having already decided on the plan.

“What kind of animals?” Chuchu asked, curiosity shining in his eyes.

“A snake.” Wei Ling gave Chuchu a knowing look, then picked up a chisel and began working swiftly, the chipped ice flying around like a miniature snowstorm.

Chuchu stood there, mouth agape, watching Wei Ling’s movements in awe.

This was the simplest, most efficient ice lantern carving he had ever seen. In just the time he’d been watching in amazement, the rough shape of the lantern had already emerged.

It was a chubby little snake, complete with a hint of baby fat.

“A snake!” Chuchu nearly threw himself onto the ice lantern, barely minding the flying ice shards.

“Yes.” Wei Ling said, wiping off the loose ice on the lantern before beginning the finer details. This part required care and precision; speed would ruin it.

Chuchu’s big eyes sparkled with delight. “Brother-in-law, is this snake supposed to be me?”

“Yes, it’s Chuchu.” Wei Ling laughed, amused by the boy’s cleverness.

“Brother-in-law, you’re amazing! You knew I was born in the year of the snake, so you carved a snake ice lantern for me. This is the cutest lantern I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t feel cold or spooky at all—it’s just adorable! I bet it’ll feel so warm, especially once we light it up with an oil lamp.” Chuchu said, circling around Wei Ling in excitement. He wanted so badly to touch the ice lantern, but he worried he’d either get in the way or accidentally damage it.

“Since Chuchu is both cute and Wen Nuan, I could make such a lovely and charming snake lantern.” Wei Ling said, reading the child’s longing. Gently, he took Chuchu’s hand and let him touch the unfinished lantern.

Ice was solid and unyielding, unlikely to break from a simple touch.

“It’s beautiful.” Chuchu murmured, satisfied after finally feeling the lantern he had been dreaming about. He then withdrew his hand carefully and asked Wei Ling, “Brother-in-law, are you going to make a tiger lantern too?” He remembered that Qin Qingman was born in the year of the tiger.

“Yes, Chuchu, you’re very clever.” Wei Ling praised him warmly.

“Brother-in-law, what about the last lantern? What animal will it be?” Chuchu was curious, not knowing Wei Ling’s zodiac sign.

“A monkey, a little monkey.” Wei Ling answered. He was twenty-six, born in the year of the monkey.

“A little snake, a little tiger, and a little monkey—wow! When we hang our family’s zodiac animals as ice lanterns under the eaves, it’ll be so beautiful!” Chuchu could barely contain his excitement. He gave Wei Ling a quick hug before running off into the house to share his joy.

“Sis! Sis! Brother-in-law is carving little snake, little tiger, and little monkey lanterns!” Chuchu shouted as he ran, his voice filling the whole house before he even saw Qin Qingman.

Hearing his loud announcement from the west room, where she was tidying up, Qin Qingman immediately understood.

“Come on, Sis! You have to see this!” Chuchu said, tugging her hand insistently as he pulled her toward the door. He even paused to grab a coat, scarf, and gloves from the rack, worried she’d get cold outside.

Unable to resist his enthusiasm, Qin Qingman felt her own curiosity grow. Bundled warmly, she followed him out of the hall.

In the short time they had been talking, Wei Ling had added even more delicate touches to the snake lantern, making its features even more refined and lifelike.

“It’s beautiful.” Qin Qingman said, awestruck by Wei Ling’s skill.

The ice lantern he was holding wasn’t just a simple decoration; it was practically a work of art. The little snake carved into the ice looked so animated and expressive that anyone who saw it would instantly think of Chuchu. Wei Ling had somehow captured the essence of Chuchu’s character and brought it into the lantern.

“Wife, what kind of little tiger would you like?” Wei Ling asked, glancing over at her. Frosted with tiny ice particles, his eyelashes caught the sunlight, refracting it into a subtle rainbow shimmer. The light softened his face, and his gaze held a tender warmth filled with deep affection.